Indian Student Missing at UC Berkeley Recovered; Roommate Recalls Final Disturbing Days

 The University of California, Berkeley community is mourning the tragic loss of Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a 22-year-old graduate student from India, whose body was recovered from Lake Anza on Saturday following his disappearance on February 9.

Sreenivasaiah, originally from Karnataka and a 2025 chemical engineering graduate of IIT Madras, was pursuing a master’s degree at UC Berkeley. He was last seen near the Berkeley Hills lake, approximately three miles from campus. His backpack, containing his passport and laptop, was later found on a nearby doorstep, prompting a multi-day search coordinated by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office using sonar, drones, and divers. Divers located his body around 2 p.m. on February 14. The cause of death has not been released, and the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office is overseeing the investigation.

The Indian Consulate General in San Francisco expressed condolences and offered support for repatriating Sreenivasaiah’s remains to his family, posting on X: “We extend our heartfelt condolences ... (and stand) ready to provide all necessary assistance.”

Sreenivasaiah’s roommate, Baneet Singh, recalled troubling behavior in his final two weeks, telling LinkedIn that he noticed Saketh eating less, subsisting mainly on chips and cookies, and withdrawing from social interactions. In their last conversation, Sreenivasaiah reportedly returned from class wearing a red bathrobe and told Singh, “I’ve stopped caring, man. I’m cold and don’t care what anyone thinks of me. I don’t care about anything.” Singh reflected on the challenges faced by international students, noting that Saketh had shown no prior signs of distress.

The UC Berkeley community expressed shock and grief over the student’s sudden death. Counseling and support services have been made available for students, faculty, and staff affected by the tragedy. Authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Saketh Sreenivasaiah is remembered as a dedicated student and a young life with promise, leaving a profound impact on those who knew him and a lasting void within the UC Berkeley community.